She found WWII letters; met her uncles

Michelle Cahill of Laguna Woods recently found a batch of letters from her uncles, 1st Lieutenant Tommy Cahill, left, and Technical Sergeant Jack Cahill right, who were killed in WWII. She writes about the revelations of the two who died before she was born. JEBB HARRIS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

I admit Memorial Day used to be mostly just a cool day off work.

I'd give a few thoughts to service people who've honored our country. I'd also think about my two uncles, young Cahills who died in World War II, and regret that I knew them only as pictures on the wall.

Tommy and Jack, both flyers, died in Europe a few weeks apart near the end of the war.

Over the years, I didn't learn much more about Tommy and Jack. But I do remember my mother saying how good-looking they were. Engaged to my dad, Bob, then married into the family, my mom knew Tommy and Jack for several years. She loved them both and said they were characters, jokesters; always teasing.

The end. Or so I thought.

And then, recently in fact, I met Tommy and Jack.

•••

Two sons, just boys really, such a loss for a family. But after the war the remaining five children stayed close to their mother, Mary, who had been widowed years prior. She would later become my grandmother, a.k.a. Nana.

Over the decades, my parents, along with my dad's three remaining brothers and their wives, multiplied. The result was my brother, myself and 11 cousins. Holidays, parties, music and humor kept our family close over the years.

In January of this year, while looking for pictures to create a family tree for a reunion, three cousins and I found some letters, old ones from the five young Cahill men who served on active duty during World War II. Letters home to their dear mom.

Busy with reunion planning, we set the letters aside. But questions percolated in my mind.

The letters were 70 years old; why didn't we know about them? Where had they been all this time?

And how did they survive the fire?

•••

After the next reunion meeting, I took the mishmash of fragile paper to my home.

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Michelle Cahill of Laguna Woods recently found a batch of letters from her uncles, 1st Lieutenant Tommy Cahill, left, and Technical Sergeant Jack Cahill right, who were killed in WWII. She writes about the revelations of the two who died before she was born. JEBB HARRIS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Technical Sergeant Jack Cahill, shown with letters home, was killed in 1944 when his B-24 bomber on a mission from England to Hamburg Germany was shot down over Holland. The radio operator was 21 years old. JEBB HARRIS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
First Lieutenant Tommy Cahill, at right, a navigator who flew over 60 bombing missions is shown getting the Distinguished Flying Cross. He died at 23 in 1945 when his B-25 bomber flying from France was shot down over Italy. JEBB HARRIS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Michelle Cahill of Laguna Woods pours over letters from her uncles sent during WWII, often finding bits of humor in the writings of her dad's brothers. JEBB HARRIS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Technical Sergeant Jack Cahill, a radio operator on a B-24 bomber based in England, sometimes signed off his letters home to his mother with morse code. JEBB HARRIS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
First Lieutenant Tommy Cahill, standing center, is shown in his quarters in France. Bugs Bunny, featured in the unit insignia, is above the fireplace at right. JEBB HARRIS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
First Lieutenant Tommy Cahill's mother Mary Cahill collected his letters home in a binder. Below is a sketch he drew of his room, with an arrow pointing to her picture. JEBB HARRIS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Michelle Cahill of Laguna Woods holds a photo of her parents Jackie and Bob Cahill. Bob had four brothers who served in WWII. Brothers Jack and Tommy Cahill wrote numerous letters home before they were killed. JEBB HARRIS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Mary Cahill had five sons who served during WWII. At home she was an air raid warden. Her card shows marks of a fire which destroyed many family letters. Fortunately many survived from sons First Lieutenant Tommy Cahill, and Technical Sergeant Jack Cahill who were both killed. JEBB HARRIS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
In her letter to son Jack, Mary Cahill talks about her "Dear Mom" collection of letters. Knowing her sons were learning other languages, she signed it, "Love Mamacita." JEBB HARRIS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Michelle Cahill of Laguna Woods recently found a batch of letters from her uncles, 1st Lieutenant Tommy Cahill, left, and Technical Sergeant Jack Cahill right, who were killed in WWII. She displays a sketch Tommy drew for his mother of his quarters, sweetly pointing out her picture over his bed. JEBB HARRIS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
With USO letterhead, On August 11, 1943, Technical Sergeant Jack Cahill wrote his mother. The 21 year-old was killed in 1944 when his B-24 bomber was shot down over Holland. JEBB HARRIS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
First Lieutenant Tommy Cahill wrote his mother Mary Cahill on April 19, 1944 from West Africa. He died at age 23 in 1945 when his B-25 bomber flying from France was shot down over Italy. JEBB HARRIS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Michelle Cahill of Laguna Woods shows a WWII telegram from one of her uncles. She recently found a batch of letters from her uncles, 1st Lieutenant Tommy Cahill, left, and Technical Sergeant Jack Cahill right, who were killed in WWII. She writes about the revelations of the two who died before she was born. JEBB HARRIS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Before he was killed in 1945, First Lieutenant Tommy Cahill wrote his mother Mary Cahill signing it, "Your loving son, Tommy." JEBB HARRIS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Jack (top row, 4th from left) in England, 1944, with his crew in front of their B-24 with the nose art “Satan's Little Sister.” COURTESY MICHELLE CAHILL
John (Jack) Cahill was a radio operator on a B-24 bomber. One of his letters describes the very crowded working conditions on this plane. COURTESY MICHELLE CAHILL
Mom (Nana) Mary Cahill painted this pastel during the war. Fortunately it was given to her son Bob's family, and escaped destruction during the Corona del Mar house fire in the 1960s. It now hangs in the home of Michelle Cahill. COURTESY MICHELLE CAHILL
The Cahill family always gathered around the piano the boys bought for their sister Patricia (at the keyboard) during the war. This picture, another perfect Christmas at Nana's, was taken in 1957. Also pictured, siblings Bob (singing, with Nana's cane for a prop), Mark and Jackie. COURTESY MICHELLE CAHILL
Tommy Cahill was a gifted writer. He wrote to his mother that he hoped to write a book about his war experiences when he came home. Fortunately many of his stories are preserved in his letters. COURTESY MICHELLE CAHILL
Tommy (standing, 2nd from left) in France, 1944, with his crew including Jocko the dog (front, center). Jocko sometimes accompanied the men on bombing missions. COURTESY MICHELLE CAHILL

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